Hi Sharon,

I'm writing to let you know that the FTC announced a sweep of credit repair scams today. I thought this might be a good fit for your readers who may have more debt than they want are turning to Bella Online for advice.

Here's some more info:

Everyday, companies target consumers who have poor credit histories with promises to clean up their credit report for a few hundred - or sometimes, a few thousand - dollars. But these companies can't deliver a better credit report using the tactics they promote. It's illegal: No one can remove accurate negative information from anyone's credit report.


The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, today announced the results of "Operation Clean Sweep," a crackdown on companies that lied about their ability to improve consumers' credit reports.


Many of your readers may be dealing with layoffs, unexpected medical bills, rising mortgage payments, or even foreclosure. Frankly, the last thing they need is a credit repair scam. That these companies collect a fee for their promise to do something illegal just adds injury to insult.


The FTC has free information to help people learn how to improve their creditworthiness and lists legitimate resources for low or no-cost help. We hope you'll help us get it to the people who need it most. Please link to the consumer brochure, Credit Repair: How to Help Yourself ; grab our short video from the press release, and let your readers know that they can learn more about managing credit and debt at ftc.gov/credit. All the information is in the public domain.

Thanks for helping to share this information. We want consumers who find themselves in a hole to stop digging!


Nat Wood

Assistant Director, Consumer & Business Education
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Federal Trade Commission